Name: Janet Garcia
Title: CEO
Company: PSI Services LLC
Website: www.psionlinestore.com
Founded: 1946
Headquarters: Olathe, Kansas
Description: PSI Online Store offers practice tests, study materials, and exam vouchers across various industries, including real estate, insurance, construction, and IT, to help individuals prepare for and succeed in their certification and licensure exams.
Driving Innovation and Security in EdTech: Janet Garcia Shares PSI’s Vision for the Future
Janet Garcia is the CEO of PSI Services LLC, where she leads efforts to empower over 22 million individuals worldwide in obtaining essential credentials. She has extensive experience in the learning and edtech sectors, having held leadership positions at companies such as Hobsons, Skillsoft, Imparta, and Intuition. Known for her strategic vision and authentic leadership style, she has built high-performing teams and driven growth in both public and private equity-owned corporations
Before taking on the CEO role, she served as the President of Global Credentialing at PSI, responsible for expanding the company’s global credentialing business through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. She has a strong background in e-learning, assessment, and talent management, with previous roles at organizations like MindLeaders (now Skillsoft), Frost & Sullivan, and Imparta. Janet now leads a global team of over 1,400 people.
In an interview, she speaks on an array of subjects. Excerpts:
PSI Services: A Culture-Driven Disruptor in EdTech
Janet Garcia, CEO of PSI Services, recalls being so motivated by the opportunity to join the company in 2017 that she “lost sleep during the selection process.” She saw PSI as a game-changer in the EdTech industry, backed by strong leadership, capital, and a clear vision for disruption. For Janet culture is everything, and her passion lies in empowering those closest to clients and operations. She credits these teams as her inspiration from day one, shaping the way she leads PSI into the future.
At PSI Services, the focus is on helping people achieve life-changing goals. Says Janet, “Our test takers are our north star—that’s who we’re here for.” To enhance this mission, PSI introduced a VP of Test Taker Experience, ensuring a seamless journey by eliminating friction in areas like registration, scheduling, and communication. By analyzing data across all touchpoints, PSI continuously refines its processes to provide test takers with the best possible experience.
Testing on Your Terms: PSI’s Multi-Modal Approach
PSI Services understands that flexibility is essential in today’s world, and taking an important test should be no exception. “Our multi-modal testing approach gives test takers the power to choose how and where they test,” says Janet. Whether online from home or in person at a PSI test centre, the goal is to provide options that fit individual needs. Online proctoring helps reduce travel time, costs, and test-day stress, especially for those balancing work and family.
Advancing Assessments with AI and Psychometrics
At PSI Services, technology and psychometrics work hand in hand to create reliable and fair assessments. With a team of over 75 experienced psychometricians and test development experts, PSI ensures that its exams uphold scientific best practices and validated methods. “For the tests, exams, assessments, licensure and government testing, we deliver to hold their value, their integrity must be protected,” notes Janet. A key advancement in this area is PSI’s integration of AI into test development. Unlike basic AI tools, PSI’s AI-assisted content generation seamlessly supports the entire test development lifecycle—from item creation to psychometric validation. “It’s a revolution in assessment and one grounded in psychometric science.” With AI guardrails and human oversight, PSI is setting new standards in assessment quality, accuracy, and fairness.
Leading the Way in Secure, Stress-Free Online Testing
PSI made a strategic move in 2019 to become the leader in multi-modal testing, a decision that proved invaluable when the pandemic accelerated the need for remote exam solutions. “We made a bold decision in 2019 to become the leader in multi-modal testing, and that decision paid off,” adds Janet. Since then, PSI has continued enhancing its online proctoring capabilities, focusing on both test taker experience and test security.
PSI is committed to delivering secure and scalable testing solutions, backed by a dedicated team of over 70 security professionals. “We are very lucky to have an outstanding Chief Security Officer who leads a team… dedicated to keeping our clients’ programs secure.”
AI: The Future of Smarter, Secure Assessments
Artificial intelligence is transforming assessments, and PSI is at the forefront of this evolution. “At PSI, we’re not just using it to speed things up. We’re rethinking how assessment can be done smarter and more efficiently from the ground up,” says Janet. AI accelerates test development by assisting in item creation and reducing exposure while allowing SMEs to guide and validate content. Additionally, by integrating AI into PSI’s already comprehensive test security framework, evolving risks – such as digital forgeries and deepfakes – can be detected and addressed before they compromise test integrity.
Ensuring Fair and Inclusive Assessments for All
Fair and valid assessments must be accessible to everyone, and PSI prioritizes inclusivity across the entire testing process. “We adopt principles for inclusivity across the assessment lifecycle.” This begins in test development, where diverse SMEs collaborate with experienced psychometricians and AI-driven bias detection tools to ensure fairness.
Leading PSI to Innovation through Culture and Listening to the Market
Janet attributes her leadership success at PSI to the values of openness, transparency, and authenticity. “I always fall a little bit in love with the organizations that I lead and that’s reflected in my ‘people first’ approach to leadership,” she shares, emphasizing the importance of culture and creating an excellent workplace for her team. Her leadership approach is grounded in empowerment and collaboration, which enables her to connect with customers and the front line. “The market talks to you if you take the time to listen,” she adds.
With a CEO approval rating of 92% on Glassdoor, well above the average of 73%, it is evident that Janet’s authentic leadership style is highly effective. Employee brand and employee satisfaction ratings remain strong, with engagement data continuing to grow year on year.
PSI’s Vision for the Future: Innovating Security and AI in EdTech
Janet shares PSI’s exciting initiatives focused on driving meaningful innovation in the EdTech sector. One major area of investment is the expansion of PSI’s global test center network, ensuring consistency, security, and care across locations. With a growing threat of deepfake-related fraud, PSI is pioneering the introduction of deepfake detection in its online proctoring solution, staying ahead of emerging security risks. She also highlights a groundbreaking partnership with disruptive AI technology, which will revolutionize how assessments are conducted. This collaboration aims to transform not just knowledge and competence testing, but also the assessment of soft skills and practical applications. “The possibilities are enormous, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.”
